SpaceX is gearing up for another milestone as its Falcon Heavy rocket prepares to launch the OTV-7 military mission into space. The highly anticipated launch, scheduled for later this month, will mark the first competitively won military mission for the Falcon Heavy.

Under the National Security Space Launch contract, SpaceX secured the $130 million bid for the OTV-7 mission back in 2018. The successful bid was a major win for SpaceX, beating out United Launch Alliance's Delta IV Heavy. With the upcoming NROL-70 mission set to take place in March, the Delta family will soon see its last-ever launch, while ULA's Atlas V continues its remaining missions.

The Falcon Heavy, known for its incredible power and capability, will feature a unique configuration for this mission. Its core vehicle, designated as B1084, has been specially built for the Falcon Heavy and is expected to be expended during the launch. However, the side boosters, B1064-5 and B1065-5, will return to Earth for touchdowns on concrete pads known as Landing Zone-1 (LZ-1) and Landing Zone-2 (LZ-2).

Recovering the boosters is a significant achievement for SpaceX, as previous Falcon Heavy launches often required the core to be expended due to performance requirements. For this mission, the boosters can be returned, showcasing the company's progress in reusability. B1064-5 and B1065-5 have previously flown four flights each, exclusively as Falcon Heavy side boosters. Their successful landings on LZ-1 and LZ-2 will contribute to SpaceX's goal of achieving 100 launches this calendar year.

The payload for the OTV-7 mission is the X-37B Vehicle 2, a mysterious unmanned spacecraft operated by the United States Space Force. While details about the mission's objectives remain classified, it is known that the X-37B has the capability to conduct experiments in space and carry various payloads. This marks the vehicle's fourth flight, following previous missions labeled as OTV-2, OTV-4, and OTV-5.

One of the experiments aboard the X-37B is the Seeds-2 project, led by NASA, which aims to explore the long-term effects of radiation on plant seeds. The spacecraft's orbit is expected to provide valuable data on space domain awareness and testing in new orbital regimes. Notably, the X-37B's orbital path will take it over regions of the world where tensions are high, including southern Ukraine, the Middle East, Taiwan, and Guyana.

As the Falcon Heavy continues to prove its reliability and versatility, future missions are already in the pipeline. Next on the agenda is the GOES-U weather satellite launch in April, followed by the Europa Clipper mission in October and the Griffin Mission One lunar lander carrying the NASA VIPER rover in November. The side boosters flown in the USSF-52 mission are also scheduled to make their sixth and final flight during the Europa Clipper mission.

SpaceX's ambitious goal of reaching 100 launches this year showcases the company's dedication to frequent and reliable space access. With around three launches every week, SpaceX is striving for a record-breaking 13 launches in a single calendar month. Achieving such a feat will require smooth processing, on-time launches, and favorable weather conditions. Looking ahead, SpaceX aims to launch 144 times in 2024, further pushing the boundaries of space exploration and redefining the industry standards.